Mary Lucas

Mary Ellen (Pumphrey) Lucas, born May 15, 1925, in Carlisle, Kentucky to Henry and Laura (Hardin) Pumphrey, died February 16, 2022, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Ms. Lucas was preceded in death by her husband, William Metcalfe Lucas; and is survived by her sister, Jean Romo; her children, Timothy Lucas (Jane), Denise Jansen, and William Lucas; grandchildren, Jeremy Jansen (Sari), Natalie Judy, William “Tucker” Lucas, Ashley Dunham (Todd), Brianna Larson (Nick) and Aaron Lucas (Beth); and great-grandchildren, John Jansen, William Jansen, Ellie Judy, Madison Judy, Charlotte Dunham, Lucas Dunham, Deyn Larson and Harvey Lucas.

Ms. Lucas received a Bachelor of Science from Butler University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Northern Kentucky University. She taught for over 40 years in Central Kentucky, Indiana and Northern Kentucky and retired from the Beechwood Independent School District in 1990 after 31 years in that district. After retiring from the Kentucky Public School System, she taught at Northern Kentucky University and then returned to the University of Kentucky as a Donovan Scholar where she completed a Doctoral Degree in Education. She was a nationally recognized and published doll maker, stained glass artist, gardener and public speaker.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at the Highland Cemetery Chapel in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. Funeral services to immediately follow at 11:30 a.m. Middendorf-Bullock Funeral Home, Erlanger is serving the family.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Sayre Christian Village Senior Living Community, 3775 Belleau Wood Dr., Lexington, KY 40517 or Care Navigators of the Bluegrass, 1733 Harrodsburg Road, Lexington, KY 40504, or the Nicholas County Historical Society Museum, 108 W. Main Street, Carlisle, KY 40311.